Chapter 11: Tribes

13:47 PM (Philippines Time), Tuesday February the 9th…

"… Huff. Well. It'll soon work again."

"Too bad. I'll blow it up."

"Hmpf. I knew you'd show up."

"Yeah… And this time no tricks will help you!"

"That remains to be seen."

"Hmpf. Getting confident?"

"More like getting amused, Link."

"Don't equal me to the guy."

"Why not? You're Mu's Chosen One, after all. Heh, heh, heh."

"That Gray Thunderbolt's been a bad influence."

"Not at all."

Kuroban had been standing in a room somewhere and taking care of a robot parked there.

This room had the shape of tall cylindrical shaft and he currently was standing at the deepest point of it: this shaft extended upwards until it was engulfed by blackness and hidden: eight vertical rows of lights were placed along the walls to illuminate it.

An elevated circle-shaped platform was set starting from the south side and ending in the middle of the opening.

The robot had a central circle-shaped body with a circle-shaped mouth which contained many small indented teeth: the robot's body was painted mainly white with some cobalt bands there and there.

The robot possessed two round shoulders and arms: each arm's end had five claws and had also gained a pale green/turquoise coloring with some white patterns.

The arms also contained two small dome-shaped pale green spots just below the elbow joints.

There was an extension atop the thing containing a golden pupil-less eye made of the same material: an inverted cone had been built beneath the main body to allow it to apparently plunge into some material and get stuck there: many cables were linked to the thing.

The robot possessed a kind of curve where the head should be and a neck-like extension originated from it, having that golden pupil-less golden eye set on its center: two small brown and black-colored cones originated from both sides of the open mouth.

Various wires were linked to several parts of its body and some headed inside of the mouth.

It also had two insect-like wings behind its shoulders.

Some painting had worn off in some spots and some parts were frozen: the howl of wind could be heard coming in.

Kuroban was standing just some centimeters from the gigantic "mouth" and smiling: he'd put on a large purplish cape which reached all the way to the floor from the back of his shoulders.

Burai had suddenly appeared at the start of the five steps so Kuroban grinned and stood up to face him by turning around.

"By the way! They say something cool's about to happen soon enough: guess it'll be Gray's lucky day~…"

"I don't care! Fight me!"

"Fine. Come, Shadow."

"Shadow Man?"

"No, no… I mean Shadow, the "Dark" Spirit… Being come out from the great Obscure Abyss! I command you by the name of the contractor! Come out…! Shadow!"

"Che."

A figure formed and surrounded Burai with "obscurity" as Kuroban warped out of the room: Burai warped too and he appeared into a yellowish energy road circling around the peak of the island and forming a cross-road from where eight roads spread: Kuroban was dashing SE.

"Wait!"

"And next time I'll tell Urateido to use Luna and Aska! It'll be ironic!"

"I don't care for that!"

"Kazebun will use the Sylph sisters!"

"Like I care!"

"And what else…? Hum… Guess Umisama will spawn Celsius."

"Che."

"And I'm saving up Origin!"

"I don't give a crap!"

"Heh, heh, heh!"

Burai began to chase Kuroban until they reached another island which had a forest close to a small village: Kuroban dropped there and so did Burai who looked around and spotted a round stone shrine-like building with a simplistic dome: Kuroban ran inside and Burai followed him: the insides were totally empty and overgrown with vegetation.

"Another shrine? You lowlife always need to battle here?"

"Heh! It's fitting."

"Whatever. Flying Knuckles!"

"Aristeros Shield!"

A white shield with the Boundary's symbols engraved along its rim and having the 3-layered-Boundary drawing on it appeared on Howsad's left arm.

"And the Dexia Sword too!"

"Hmpf!"

Burai formed three fists made of purple flames and which flew towards Kuroban but he blocked them with the shield.

"My HP clock at 3500! Yours at 3250… The shield reduces damage by 75% so… Each fist was worth 250… Instead of 750… I only suffer 187."

"Hmpf. So you've improved it."

"Hey. Did you think I spent all this time just going over my frustration or what? I've been improving myself, too."

"Rising Knuckle!"

Burai lifted his right fist and three energy shockwaves travelled across the ground yet they were partly blocked by the Aristeros Shield.

"Well, well. Each was 200… Instead of 600… 150. Heh!"

"Che. I'm fed up with this. Eat Burai Sword!"

"Dexia Sword!"

Both clashed blades and struggled in the deadlock: Burai suddenly stepped back and managed to form a diagonal cut on Kuroban's armor which he didn't mind.

"350? Heh. Not bad. My turn! Dexia Sword! 300!"

"Gruah!"

Kuroban ducked and slashed across Burai's armor: he growled and recoiled while Kuroban calmly returned to his position.

"Heh, heh, heh. 640 for me, 300 for you… But since I'm reducing damage by 75%... Save for that sword blow… Meh."

"Che. I'm not getting anywhere at this rate! Burai Break!"

Burai warped and performed an uppercut which Kuroban mostly blocked while chuckling.

"My, my. That was worth 400 HP… But I only get 100…"

"Heck. I'm running out of patience!"

"No wonder. I'm still pretty fresh… Lightning! Descend!"

"What! Krua~h!"

A bolt of lightning fell down and hit Burai who didn't see it coming: he growled and he stood up again.

"Shit. That thing delivers 350 HP of damage! 650 for me…"

"And 740 for me… We're close, eh?"

"And that shield isn't broken by my Breaker attacks either. Che."

"I'm too smart for that. Blame Mr. Smart."

"Impact Cannon! 240 points!"

"Reduced to 60… I've gone over the 700 HP points of damage…"

The blast did hit the shield but Kuroban shrugged while Burai recoiled from the firing.

"Big Grenade! 180!"

"Fine. I'll take it in. Hah! It tickles. 920…"

Kuroban let the Big Grenade hit him and explode 3 times in a row but merely chuckled.

"Damn. Your sword can act as a Muramasa Blade too!"

"Yessir. Starting to catch up, Mr. Bold?"

"Grrr… Don't laugh at me! Mu Rejection."

"Heh! It came out."

Burai formed a round blue ghostly shield with runes circling the edge in a clockwise manner.

"Alright. My turn! Mad Vulcan X!"

All rounds bounced off the shield and did no effect so Burai frowned.

"Why waste that? Wait. You can add a Card's power to the sword?"

"Maybe."

"Che."

"Too late! Dexia Vengeance!"

"What!"

The sword glowed and Kuroban made it hit the floor: a column of reddish energy shot skywards and hit Burai several times from his feet: he groaned and collapsed.

"Shit. I eat 940 HP to my 700 and I've lost about 1650 points by now…! But there's still a long way left."

"I know. Until Mr. Bold remembers he's late for his date with Ms. Beautiful in the Camps Elyseés…"

"GRKXNTK!" He growled.

"Gotcha. Destroy Missile!"

"Not that again! Ugrura~h!"

Several gigantic missiles began to rain down around Burai and he could barely shield from the serial explosions: Kuroban delivered a blow with his sword next and chuckled.

"Total damage: 900! 2550 points lost… Only 700 left!"

"Thousand Kick!"

"What! Hugru~h!"

Burai began to deliver a series of fast chained kicks and Kuroban howled as he recoiled.

"Shit. I couldn't reduce this one so I suffered 480 points… I had 940 so it sums up to 1420…! Bah! It isn't 50%, even. We can still fight for a while without tiring." Kuroban shrugged it off.

"Edogiri Blade X!"

"Gurh! I lowered the guard…! 200… 1620… Hah! Not yet!"

"Che. Hard to chew… I need more strength… Stun Knuckle!"

"It's just 130 so I'll be receiving that blow. And whatever comes next: I can shoot it at you, anyway."

Kuroban let Burai hit him in purpose but then Burai snickered and Kuroban seemed to frown under the shades.

"Platinum Meteor! It'd normally fall into a random pattern within 9 squares of terrain… Now they'll ALL fall into you with a base power of 90 points!"

"No way! Mugru~rah!"

"Starting to regret your strategy~?"

"Shit! This punk!"

"That's my motto."

"Wha~t?"

All meteors fell down on Kuroban and his sword's glow became another tint of red like fresh blood.

"810! I 2580 HP lost out of 3500…! 74%...! Grah! So you like to edit things too, EH?"

"Hmpf. I'm Editor Burai."

"No more fooling around! Eat back these 810 points and be gone!"

"Mu Rejection!"

"Shit."

The attack bounced off the Mu Rejection and hit some of the trees and grass without affecting them: they both began to hear muttering close by and someone banging on the door.

"Che. Guess there's been some noise or light which was emitted and the cattle have begun to gather."

"Hmpf. Whatever. Come! "Dimensional Converter"! Seal the insides of this building! "Dimensional Area"!"

A "Dimensional Area" formed inside of the building and turned thick as if to impede anyone who managed to open the doors to see what was going on inside.

"Break Count Bomb!" Burai announced.

"Hell! Aristeros Shield!"

"Burai Break!"

"Grah! That uppercut! I blocked and only got 100…! 2950…!"

"Here it goes!"

The gigantic bomb which Burai had placed on the field went off and an explosion shook the building: Kuroban had managed to shield so he nullified most of the damage.

"Only 150…! What a monster! 3100…! I've got 400 HP left and this guy's got about 700…!"

"Hmpf!"

"Che. Sky, land, people…! Great will that holds the origin of all lives! I command you by the name of the contractor! Come out…! Origin!"

A triangle of energy formed in the ground and shot electrical bursts at Burai while Kuroban's sword and shield began to glow with a white pulsation.

"Origin increased my attack and defense by 25%! My Aristeros Shield will now nullify all attacks! And these 3 attacks by Origin were worth 150 each so… You've lost 450! Only 250 left! Another reversal! Isn't it?"

"Che. But I was saving up something."

"What?"

"An ace-in-the-hole… I'd planned to use it before but I see it fitting to use it now… Hmpf…"

"What?"

"Darkness Hole! All "Boss" class foes will be defeated if their HP falls below 500! The end!"

"What! Impossible!"

A purplish "hole" with an evil "face" drawn on it formed and sucked up energy from both of them: they collapsed into their knees and panted while there was the sound of someone ramming against the doors.

"Che… A draw… Whatever! I'm off. I've got work to do."

"Hmpf… Now I've proven that I always have an ace to reverse the tables!"

"Whatever the frigging ever. I'm off to hearing to M&F. See ya~…"

"Hmpf… I'll go submit this data to Golden Star… It could be useful to them."

Both warped out and the "Dimensional Area" got cancelled: they reappeared in different roads and headed in different directions each: Kuroban smirked and rushed back to the base: he landed back inside of the shaft and then heard an elevator ping.

"Hmmm?"

"Ah! Prince. We were concerned, sir. Transmissions wouldn't connect."

"My bad, Umisama… I was busy dealing with that Burai jerk…"

"And…?"

"A draw… But it's another level of battle altogether because I didn't use my three-layered Boundary… The guy can shatter it, anyway."

Umisama, the newcomer struck as being around the same height as Eisei.

His hair had been dyed blue although there was a trace of brown hair underneath it while his eyes' irises were blue in coloring.

He sported a navy blue sweater plus a pair of jeans and fisherman's boots colored with white stripes.

"I see, sir."

"I'm going to work on this for a little while and then go back to the Kyutora Base."

"Roger. By the way… We detected hacking in this base's computers and all data regarding "Dimensional Converters" got stolen…"

"What?"

"Identity: unknown… The sensors were down and we couldn't pick anything about them. At all…"

"Heck."

"And we believe it's the same Navi that hacked materialization data out of Dark Man a few days ago… Yet Golden Star seem to be clueless about who they were." He reported next.

"How odd."

"Truly, sir."

"Hum. Well. You guys can do as you like but remember to not go over the edge either."

"Roger, sir. I'll keep on with the investigation on this hacker."

"Do it."

Umisama headed back into an elevator built in the NW corner while Kuroban rubbed his chin.

"How odd. Who would do that? I'm sure most hostile forces out there don't seriously think about Navi materialization yet. They gotta think that's sci-fi… In that case… Who'd desire to use both "DCs" and materialization factors…? Odd, by the High One…"

He shrugged and kept on hitting the patches of ice to shatter them yet he seemed troubled by the news.

Bah. Let's just focus on getting this dude to fly again. Then we'll focus on that hacker guy…!

17:50 PM (Japan Time)…

"… Phew. Homework's over… Let's listen to the broadcast…"

Leon (wearing his middle school uniform) finished his homework inside of his room aboard Purgatory.

This room had two beds set parallel to each other, a small desk between them, a larger desk and chairs set to door's right and a cubicle containing the bathroom: the north wall also had a porthole covered by a curtain.

The desk had a laptop computer atop it which he was using to work.

"Welcome~! V! B! N! Today's new album! "The T. I. A. goes and gets up-to-date!"… Start! "Mortadelo! Filemón! Are you doing anything?" … "Yes, I'm testing the leaf spring elasticity!" …"The car's?" … "Wrong! The armory stuff! It's the most modern weapon we've got!" … "I see… And Mr. Filemón?" … "Well! There, in the front! Whom did you think was holding the leaf spring's arms? The esparto rope rotted away and…" … "Well. We are somewhat old-fashioned…" … "Old-fashioned, ya say~? Not at all! We've discarded the tablets! Now we write over papyrus!"…"

"And he calls that "modern"?" Leon rolled his eyes.

"… "There are phones which are old-model ones…" … "Well. What matters is that they work and…" … "They don't! They're just imitations for visitor appeal." … They're hollow and have an alarm clock inside!"

"How devious."

"… "In all offices they have modern super-electronic writing machines, you see… And we still have the steam model ones!" … TUF, TUF, TUF! TUGDUF! PCHSSS! PFIUI~H! TLACATLAC! TLAC! TLOC! TLAC! BANG! "The boiler! It blew up again! I'm so gonna go write Hieroglyphs into Cheops' Pyramid!" … "Heh! And let's not talk about computers. All companies have a button which you press to access the database… And here… We do have the button…"… TRI~NG! "But that's because Regúlez, the data bank clerk is deafer than a shoe!" … "Hi, Mr. Super! Did you ring the bell or was that a passerby mosquito? By the way, we got them… The data of Moscoso, the "Pito"…"…"

"A criminal…?"

"… "7 years in Sing-Sing, 14 in Alcatraz, 11 in the Saint Acisclus' Aciscalan Convent… Devil! They mixed the data of Friary Acuoso Bendito with those of Julai Moscoso, the "Pito"…!" … "What a dilemma! What a dilemma!"…"

"I can understand that frustration, yeah."

"… "It gets worse when it comes to transportation… Any organization has armored cars, caterpillar trucks, they own planes… We've only got the JET!" … "A jet? We've got a je~t? Where~?"… "Where else, man? In the stables! The Jumento Schizophrenic and Defective!"… Original: Jumento Esquizofrénico y Tarado! Hence JET!"

"Man. They really need to get up to date."

"… "And when it comes to political matters…! Other institutions have direct contact methods with higher echelons of the Government… They know in all moments the international happenings which may affect them… And we have to satisfy ourselves with Melecio, brother-in-law of the replacement Parliament gate-keeper!" … "Hey! My bro-in-law told me the Minister fellow's got the hives 'n…" …"But this ends now! We'll get rid of all old and useless stuff!" … "I'm sorry, Boss… We've been together for so long… Well! Good luck wherever you end at! Well! Let the hives show up on the rear part of the eye! What a jerk! I wish him good luck…!"…"

"Jeez. Mortadelo is never grateful to his Boss, eh?"

"… "Enough fooling! I mean that the "T. I. A." is going to become a year 2000 agency! To accomplish that you'll test some new artifacts which Professor Bacterio gathered during a world tour, improved and adapted for our use!" … "HIM! HIM!"… "Well, yes, that's me. You're glad to see me, eh, boys?"… "… Will you stop acting the imbecile and return to the office? And stop the comedy! You were it was a dead track!"…"

"What? They wanted to pick a train to escape?"

"More like they wanted the train to run them over, I think…"

"Jeez. They really prefer that to the Professor's gizmos?"

"… "As I was saying: Professor Bacterior readied some inventions."… "And this is the most spectacular of them! A thought materializer! You need to aim it to someone, launch the wave and their thoughts will materialize! See, see!" … "Devil! The…!" … "AH! AH! A~RGH!" … "Why! It looks like it does work!"… Bacterio became a donkey!"

"Huff. Mortadelo… What was he thinking of?"

"… "Grtjxh! Thinking I was a… a…! Take stupidity! Eat this! EAT THIS!" … "Everyone is something! Go shave! I've never seen a bearded donkey before!" … CLOC! CLOC! CLOC! RAS! RAS! RA~S! "Come, Professor, stop kicking Mortadelo's head! And you, Mortadelo, stop depilating the Professor by biting!" … "Did you see the gizmo, Boss? You only need to do this and…!" .. "RARGÑ! OINK!"… "GULP!" … Why! What were you thinking of, Boss?" … "Miserable! Thinking that I am a mere pig…! Take crushing legs! Take this!" … "Ouch! I'm gonna teach ya to aim that to your nose! ARGN!" … "UAH! What a brute you are, Boss! My leg's ended up so bad I could become a pirate!" … "You need to have higher, purer, constructive and fraternal thoughts! Let's test again…!" … "You unthankful and vile man! So you were thinking that I'd be better…?" … "And you what, huh? And you what? Brain-killer!" … "Higher, purer, constructive, fraternal thoughts… I give up!" … Note! They were wishing each one would be gone from this world!"

"Huff. It's a miracle they still work together despite that."

"… "Ah! Mr. General Inspector. What an honor. We were in the middle of testing a thought materializing device that…" … "A~G! Magnificent, moustache trash! Now I know whom I'm dealing with!" … "B-but, I didn't, I…!" … Mortadelo aimed it at Mr. Super and the General Inspector became a frog!"

"Really…"

"… "Calm down, Mr. Inspector! The effects are temporary!"… "No! I want to devour this damned insect first! ARGN!" … "That bald disgrace is to blame! I'm gonna see your thoughts by blowing up the cover!" … "Get lost, fella! Who told you to think of those things?" … END! Of chapter 1!"

"Huff. The craziest agency in the world, really…"

His PET beeped and he rolled his eyes: he replied to the call and found that Sieg was on-screen: he'd taken out his sunglasses to reveal red irises which showed amusement.

"Yo! Ani-ue-sama. What'd ya think of today's broadcast of thoughts and hate and passion?"

"Huff. Dunno. Ask Eisei."

"I asked already: I'm two steps ahead of ya~…"

"No wonder. You stole Ruby's sneakers."

"Ruby? Ah! The guy from Gen III, yeah. They saw we'll have news of Gen V this next week, see~!"

"Hum. We'll see."

"See and not see!"

"How devious of you, Sieg."

"Wasn't that obvious, ani-ue-sama~? Did ya save Redfield's lil sis?"

"Huff. Don't mix me in with those Biohazard games."

"Heh, heh, heh! Let's rumble and shake! Did Keitai Denwa teach ya to kick like Chris?"

"I don't need to learn that. Go learn that yourself."

"Heh, heh, heh. Ya always have a Counter Trap Card ready~!"

"Huff. I do. Now get lost in Panama. Play pirate." Leon was obviously trying to shake him off somehow.

"Why not! There needs to be a new gang! Pirate Gang! Anime-only!"

"Sure, sure. Go suggest that to the directors."

"And we'll bring Mr. Universe to direct and command them!"

"I know. Go and leave me alone ALREADY or I'll get ANNOYED."

"OK, Ani-Ue-Sama~… Ya win this round but next… Heh, heh, heh!"

"Huff. At last."

He sighed in relief and left the PET atop the desk again.

"Heh, heh, heh. Bye and hi~…" A voice rang out through the speakers.

"Needle Man – san…!" Leon got a twitch over the right eye.

"Needle Man! Broadcast time's over: stop joking!" Freeze Man fumed.

"Huff. Shah, shah, shah! Alright, Danna… Don't get annoyed!"

"At last! Some peace and silence…!"

He began to browse using the computer and hummed a tune as he read up some page.

"Hmmm… We're still missing 3 PKMN from the Isshu Encyclopedia, the 3 last… Guess they'll be eventually revealed… Maybe this same year for the movie… Huh? Internal mail… Not Tozukana – san again… "I don't need to find any girlfriend, Tozukana – san! Please go complete with Qong – san in the simulator!" … Really! Guess I'll have to speak with Noir – san."

"Yo~! Leonel! Wanna see some stuff?" Tozukana's voice rang out.

"The outer interphone…!" He grumbled.

He headed over to it and pressed the reply button.

"I do not need to! I shall complain to Ms. Secretary!"

"YIKES!"

"Told cha…" Lily sighed in the background.

"C-cha! Stay quiet!"

"Alright. But then don't say I didn't warn you, Joanne – chan."

The interphone got shut down and Leon finally sighed in relief.

It's a wonder you don't go mad from living in this mad place! And I've only been here ever since the summer… Oh boy! Knock some sense here! Huff!